Crow is called Etitibiti in Benin. A very dark smart birds of the corvus of which Raven (Akhuan-khuan) also belong. This bird is believed to be the king of all birds in Benin beliefs.
Fable has it that, after creation, Erhamwẹn-Osa(Thy Lord) wanted to crown sparrow (Esikpogho) king of all birds. Erhamwẹn-Osa wanted to crown little sparrow king, was to tell other birds that wisdom of the king is not measured by his size. However, a day to Esikpogho’s coronation, Esikpogho began to speak with boast that some other birds that prove threat to his kingship will be killed and eradicated from Earth. On it word according to the Benin fable, “vbe nia vb’akhuẹ, esagiẹn gha lẹ okpukpo” meaning in time like this tomorrow after coronation, blood will overflow. God saw sparrow as very proud, over ambitious and dangerous.
Hence, God requested for a calm, smart and hard-working bird. No one present there was fit for such a high task, except Etitibiti who was in the farm packing the remains of clearing that was burnt (ekhuẹn) at that very moment. God requested for Etitibiti.
On arrival, Etitibiti (crow) was not allowed to bath off the coal carbon on it body from farm parking (ekhuẹn) before the crown was placed on his head. That is the reason behind Crow’s dark color.
Why Crow Peck on Carnivorous Birds:
Having been crowned by Erhamwẹn-Osa (The Lord), Crow promised God to personally fight the injustice of birds kills or eat his fellow birds, as it is in the fish world. As a result to seeing it promise to God fulfilled, crow work hard to fight against killing of birds by other carnivorous birds like hawk and eagle.
In the article earlier released by Organization of Great Benin Kingdom one could deduce that, “The only bird that dares to catch an eagle is the crow.
He sits on his back and bites his neck.
However, the eagle does not respond, nor fight with the crow; he does not waste time or energy with the crow.
He simply spreads his wings and starts to rise higher in the heavens.
The higher the flight, the harder it is for crow to breathe due to lack of oxygen. Consequently, the crow shall definitely fall”.
It is also believe that crow doesn’t excrete on the ground except on Hawk’s Head to show that Etitibiti is the king of birds (ọrogie oghẹ ahiamwẹn).
©Edorodion
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